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With over 90 miles of coastline, beaches are aplenty in Mendocino County. From hidden coves to sandy estuaries, rocky coves to literal rocks – spherical – and glass. All beautiful and none overcrowded. Mendocino County is the perfect getaway for unique beaches, offering a recipe for bliss.
Only seen at low tide, Bowling Ball Beach sits on the northern edge of Schooner Gulch State Park. Experience one of the most wondrous sites – a shoreline blanketed in large spheres, tumbled by waves over millennia. Take the Moat Creek Trail to the west of mile market 12.89 on Highway 1. It’s magical!
Van Damme State Beach in Little River offers a gentle inlet that’s a perfect launch for a sea kayaking adventure. For more adventures, enjoy tidepooling and urchin diving, or just wade on in to these mild waves lapping along the shore. With nearby lodging, a few days of fun in the sun await you.
Take the wooden staircase from Mendocino Headlands Bluff and you’ll find yourself on Portuguese Beach. Named for the early fishermen from the Azores, Portuguese Beach stands out for the nearby rock arch, the abundance of driftwood and a site for bonfires. Just steps from the village of Mendocino, grab a picnic or s’more fixin’s for a delightful day or evening on the beach!
No beach list is complete without Glass Beach in Fort Bragg. Famous for having once been a dumping site where broken bottles were tumbled into beautiful sea glass, Glass Beach is also known for the many incredible tidepools with the sea’s living treasures. For the best chance of experience the bounty of sea glass, walk a bit north or south of Glass Beach where low tide uncovers these pebbles of beauty.
Note: It is illegal to take glass beach gems.
Is there any great sight than watching a dog play on the beach?! It doesn’t even have to be your dog – just the sheer joy of running in the waves, chasing down a stick, and frolicking with other canines – it’s what doggie dreams are made of! Head to Noyo (Dog) Beach at the very end of North Noyo Harbor, past the bridge overhead…and don’t forget the chuck-it!
More notable beaches include Usal Beach on the southern end of Sinkyone Wilderness State Park. This remote beach has a campground adjacent to it. Greenwood State Beach in Elk is popular for beachcombing, fishing, picnicking, and is dog-friendly as long as they’re leashed. On the south coast, the river meets the Pacific at Gualala River Beach, and makes for a glorious beach outing. Now this is where sandcastles are meant to be created!
Find more beaches:
MendoParks and Mendocino Land Trust
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